Elections 2014: BJP gears up for big party; Congress, MNS stay mum

By Priyankka Deshpande |Posted 14-May-2014

Confident of a thumping victory, BJP workers in the city are preparing for a big bash; Congress and MNS, however, are keeping a lid on their plans

With the exit polls predicting a thumping victory for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), the city unit of the party has gone into celebration mode, and is planning a massive bash at Belbaug Chowk on Friday.

Repeat telecast? BJP workers in the city are hoping they will get to organize an even bigger celebration than they did when the results of the assembly elections in Delhi, MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram were announced in December last year. File pic

Other prominent political parties are, however, keeping a lid on their plans, preferring to wait till the results are out. When mid-day contacted party leaders of Congress and MNS, they chose to keep mum on their idea of celebrations.

The election results will be declared in two days and BJP party workers, sensing victory, have already placed orders for sweets in the shape of a lotus — the party’s symbol. Dhol tasha troupes have also been roped in to give the festivities a traditional flavour, said a party worker.

Grand plans“Screens will be put up at the venue to view the live telecast of the results,” said corporator Hemant Rasane, who has been assigned the responsibility of coordinating the revelry.

He added that 25 mammoth cutouts of the party’s prime ministerial candidate Nar-endra Modi will be put up at various places across the city.

“To share our joy with our fellow citizens, we have already placed an order for 100 kg pedas for distribution from a popular sweet mart in the city,” Rasane added.

Cracker of a prospectMeanwhile, confident of brisk business, firecracker merchants across the city have stocked up on firecrackers worth Rs 4 lakh.“Considering the huge celebrations that would be held by the winning parties on May 16, I purchased 25 boxes of crackers worth Rs 1 lakh from Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu,” said Chandrakant Amrale, president, Sarasbag Firecraker’s Association. Owner of Raghunath Firecracker Mart, Dilip Deokar, said that BJP leaders have asked him to provide as many firecrackers as they may need and he has, therefore, increased his stock to meet their expected requirement.

‘Will wait for results’Congress city president Abhay Chhajed said that his party men will be deployed at the venue where counting will take place. “We are sure of our candidate’s victory and once the results are out, we will celebrate the victory at Congress Bhavan,” said Chhajed.

MNS city chief Bala Shedge said that since he owns a sweet mart, arrangements will be done at the last moment. “If Raj saheb takes a stand that MNS workers should also celebrate Modi’s victory, then local party workers will celebrate it accordingly,” he said.